Having owned a yarn store for 13 years, I have to admit to having become a little jaded about buying the things I’m addicted to. Like any good addict, I’m in search of newer and greater highs. An unusual fiber combination, a new method of dyeing, intriguing color combinations. Enter Ravelry, my new pusher enabler.

I joined Ravelry because I thought it would, in part, be a good marketing tool. A way to connect with other knitters and see what’s selling, what’s being coveted, new uses for established yarns. I also joined because I am an organization fiend, and the thought of cataloging my stash of yarn, fiber and patterns was irresistible.

What I didn’t bank on was my lack of willpower when confronted with thousands of other fiber fanatics and their favorite things. And links to where they bought those favorite things. In eleven short days, I bought all the Japanese knitting books that I’ve lusted after for the past year but didn’t want to deal with amazon.jp to buy, must-have dyeing reference books, and fiber. Oh. My. God. The fiber.

I stumbled upon a discussion of favorite places to buy fiber, saw all of my favorites mentioned and found a few more. These are purchases from Copperpot Woolies, a new-to-me etsy shop. Wait, don’t go there. You might buy something I want! Seriously, there are at least 16 other items I wanted. Breathing deeply now… Maybe you’d like to see what I’m doing with my hands when I’m not using them to type in my credit card number.

This is a most unusual batt of Corriedale from Grafton Fibers. I’m not usually an orange and yellow person, but this one intrigued me. It has long sections of black in it, and shades from a delicate peach to burnished gold. I split it in half lengthwise, and continued to split one section into lengthwise strips, about 2″ wide. I alternated between light strips and strips with lots of black in them. I’m spinning the second half now, and I’m tearing off small bits, widthwise this time, and spinning them from the fold. I’m hoping this’ll give me a good mixing of the colors without muddying it up too much.

Yesterday I finished the first repeat of the first pattern on my Honeybee Stole. The dark edge is a provisional cast on. The little bit of green at the top is my lifeline. I’m loving this pattern, though it’s slow going. Not because it’s ponderous knitting, but because I only can work on it at home, and I don’t have much at-home time these days. Tomorrow’s my day off, and I’ve promised Ms. Bee some quality time.

Now I think I’d better head to work to sell some yarn, so I can afford my little Ravely induced shopping spree.